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Picture
What is this?
Title: Fallaway Whisk
Level: Gold (ISTD); (?) (IDTA)
Timing: (123)
Rotation: ⅜ to Left
Notes
The Fallaway Whisk is listed in the 'Additional Figures' section of the ISTD syllabus. This is because it is not a required figure for examination. For the sake of competition and choreography, it can be used just like any other figure.

Historical Note 
In our 1966 edition of The Revised Technique by Alex Moore, the Fallaway Whisk as a Named Variation (Gold). 
We can only speculate as to how it came to its current position -- possibly having been removed entirely before being re-inserted as an additional figure in the latest amendment. 

IDTA Syllabus: The Fallaway Whisk is listed under 'Additional Figures' in The Waltz and Basic Principles by Guy Howard (2011). It is not specified at which level it is to be danced.
Back Whisk turned to Right vs. Fallaway Whisk
In both the ISTD and IDTA syllabi, the Back Whisk contains a footnote that allows it to be turned ⅜ to Diagonal Center following 1-3 Natural Turn. This can cause confusion, as this alignment is also the one used by the Fallaway Whisk, and can make identifying the two somewhat troublesome. Here are some distinguishing characteristics:

Back Whisk turned to Right:
Rise/Fall on 3rd Step: Up. Lower end of 3.
Sway (Man): Straight, Right Side Up, Right Side Up.
Fallaway Whisk:
Rise/Fall on 3rd Step: Lower on 3.
Sway (Man): Straight, Straight, Left Side Up.

Our recommendation is to use the Back Whisk turned to Right technique for turns up to ¼, and the Fallaway Whisk technique for rotations of ⅜. Also, see our Video Comparison below.

Video Comparison
-30 shows the Fallaway Whisk.
 
-7D shows the Back Whisk turned to Right.
If you click play on both videos, the demonstrations to music will appear nearly simultaneously.
We have to admit that it isn't easy to tell the difference between the two.

Video Example 2

Notes

Victor Veyrasset and Heather Smith demonstrate and explain the Fallaway Whisk.


Pre-Bronze
1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Natural Spin Turn
5. Whisk
6. Chassé from PP
Bronze
7. Closed Impetus
8. Hesitation Change
9. Outside Change
10. Reverse Corté
11. Back Whisk
12. Basic Weave
13. Double Reverse Spin
14. Reverse Pivot
15. Back Lock
16. Progressive Chassé to Right
Silver
17. Weave from PP
18. Closed Telemark
19. Open Telemark
20. Open Impetus
21. Cross Hesitation
22. Wing
23. Outside Spin
24. Turning Lock to Left
25. Drag Hesitation
Gold
26. Left Whisk
27. Contra Check
28. Closed Wing
29. Turning Lock to Right
30. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot
31. Hover Corté
32. Fallaway Whisk
Additional Figures
33. Forward Lock Step
34. Fallaway Natural Turn
35. Running Spin Turn
36. Quick Natural Spin Turn
37. Open Natural Turn from PP


Former Syllabus Figures
-Backward Passing Changes
-Double Natural Turn

Go to Waltz Syllabus - Tango Syllabus - Foxtrot Syllabus - Quickstep Syllabus - Viennese Waltz Syllabus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
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